Kenya
At Nairobi Hospital in Nairobi, the Kenya Cardiac Society organized a World Heart Day celebration complete with speeches, a five-kilometer walk, a tug of war, sack races for children, football matches and free health checks. Approximately 1,500 people took part, including the country’s vice president. A documentary on heart disease was also shown on national TV during prime news time.
The Kenyan-Heart National Foundation celebrated World Heart Day on 29 September with a “Fun Day” for children at a water park. There were live performances by gospel singers, acrobatic shows, skipping performances, swimming, poems, traditional dances and games. There were songs and speeches about the prevention of rheumatic heart disease. Participants received waistline tape measures, T-shirt with the World Heart Day slogan “Team Up for Healthy Hearts!”, trophies, participation certificates and booklets about rheumatic heart disease. More than 6,000 people participated, including 4,000 children, most of whom attend schools in the Eastlands area of Nairobi where the heart foundation has been particularly active in trying to prevent rheumatic heart disease.
